Legendary Hanley Hands Out Test Jerseys to Kiwis

Legendary Hanley Hands Out Test Jerseys to Kiwis

London , England , November 4, 2011 – Ellery Hanley gave the Kiwis’ Test dinner superstar quality when he handed out the players’ jerseys at their London hotel tonight ahead of their Four Nations encounter with Wales tomorrow.

Regarded by many as the greatest British rugby league player of all time, the now 50-year-old Hanley had no hesitation in accepting an invitation from Kiwi team manager and former Leeds team-mate Tony Kemp to attend as the special guest.

Last week All Whites and Blackburn Rovers captain Ryan Nelsen joined the Kiwis as their Test dinner guest.

Hanley played more than 500 top-level matches at club and international level from 1978-1997, scoring almost 420 tries in all, a phenomenal total for a player who spent most of his career playing at loose forward or standoff. During his time with Wigan he scored 189 tries in 202 games including 63 in one season.

Hanley travelled from Leeds to London to be with the Kiwis tonight. After giving the players some insights and motivational messages, he added a personal touch handing out the jerseys. It was a special experience for the entire Kiwi squad and management team, more so for Vodafone Warriors back rower Elijah Taylor (21) who tomorrow makes his Test debut at one of the world’s most famous arenas. He becomes Kiwi No 770.

The Test will also be one of singular significance for Wigan ’s Thomas Leuluai. The 26-year-old is the longest-serving player in the squad, having made his Test debut as Kiwi No 704 in 2003 when he was only 18.

Tomorrow he lines up for his 29th international, drawing level with his father, Kiwi great James.

Leuluai senior (Kiwi No 547) was part of the outstanding Kiwi teams of the mid 1980s, playing his first Test in 1979 and his last in 1986.

By the end of the tournament it’s possible the Leuluais will achieve the rare distinction of playing in a total of 60 Tests between them, by far the biggest tally by a father and son in New Zealand rugby league history.

Tomorrow will be the younger Leuluai’s second visit to Wembley in a matter of weeks after playing there for the first time in Wigan’s Challenge Cup final win over Leeds in August. In his day, James played for Hull at the old Wembley in the 1984-85 Challenge Cup final against Wigan .

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